VOLUPTUOUS ROMANTIC SHOWPIECE¡ªRACHMANINOFF¡¯S SECOND¡ªTO HIGHLIGHT PACIFIC SYMPHONY CONCERT FEATURING PIANIST KIRILL GERSTEIN AND GUEST CONDUCTOR MEI-ANN CHEN
Also on the program: Dvorak¡¯s Ninth Symphony, ¡°From the New World,¡±
and Torke¡¯s ¡°Javelin¡±
Taking center stage for Pacific Symphony¡¯s upcoming concert is one of the world¡¯s most lyrical, popular and critically admired piano concertos¡ªRachmaninoff¡¯s Second¡ªperformed by one of the most intriguing and talented young musicians, Kirill Gerstein, who was named the sixth recipient of the 2010 Gilmore Artist Award¡ªa prestigious award described by The New York Times as ¡°music¡¯s answer to the MacArthur Foundation ¡®genius¡¯ grants.¡±
The award is only given every four years to a pianist of exceptional ability and profound musicianship. As the Boston Globe stated, the Russian-born pianist is ¡°on the fast track to a major career, and he deserves to be.¡± For this program, Rachmaninoff¡¯s piano concerto stands in sharp contrast to the simplicity of Michael Torke¡¯s ¡°Javelin¡± and from the new world and the old, Dvorak¡¯s beloved Symphony No. 9. The orchestra is led by one of America¡¯s most promising young conductors, Mei-Ann Chen, the first woman to win the Malko International Conductors Competition (2005).
¡°Rachmaninoff¡¯s Second¡± takes place Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 9-11, at 8 p.m., in the Ren¨¦e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. A preview talk with Alan Chapman begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25-$105; for more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org
Throughout the 2010-11 season, the Symphony¡¯s ¡°Year of the Piano¡± continues to spotlight the most outstanding pianists today and composers and repertoire that stand the test of time. For this concert, the focus is on the last of the Russian Romantics, Sergei Rachmaninoff, whose Second Piano Concerto is the composition that made his reputation.
It¡¯s also a piece that requires significant talent to play. Acclaimed pianist Gerstein has the tremendous power, speed and dexterity, huge hand span and bility to capture the subtle gradations in tempo and dynamics that are necessary to conquer the piece. The Chicago Sun Times once said that Gerstein ¡°showed how virtuosity and soulfulness can go hand in hand.¡±
Born in 1979 in Voronezh, Russia, Gerstein attended one of the country¡¯s special music schools for gifted children and taught himself to play jazz by listening to his parents¡¯ extensive record collection. After coming to the United States at age 14, Gerstein continued his jazz piano studies as the youngest student ever to attend Boston¡¯s Berklee College of Music, before turning his focus to classical music, first at the Manhattan School of Music with Solomon Mikowsky and then with Dmitri Bashkirov in Madrid and Ferenc Rados in Budapest.. His masterful technique and probing interpretations have led to explorations of classical music and jazz, advanced degrees by the age of 20, a professorship in piano by the age of 27, and a full performance schedule at the world¡¯s major music venues and festivals.
¡°¡the resourceful Kirill Gerstein showed¡how to turn the tried-and-true piano recital into something startlingly fresh ¡. Mr. Gerstein played with aplomb¡with valiant determination and great effect¡¡±¡ªThe New York Times
In addition to the Gilmore Award, Gerstein was awarded First Prize at the 2001 Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition in Tel Aviv, received a 2002 Gilmore Young Artist Award, and was chosen as Carnegie Hall¡¯s ¡°Rising Star¡± for the 2005-06 season. Most recently, he was a recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant.
On the same program is ¡°Javelin,¡± a piece by living composer Torke, whose distinctive style stands out among his peers. His sparkling freshness has made him a ¡°go-
to¡± composer for commissioned ceremonial works such as ¡°Javelin,¡± which was composed in 1994 as a ¡°sonic Olympiad¡± for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympics.
Last but not least, the program includes Dvorak¡¯s Ninth Symphony¡ªa masterpiece that represents both triumph and tragedy in American music. Best known as the ¡°From the New World¡± Symphony,¡± the work was composed in 1893 during Dvorak¡¯s visit to the United States and is by far his most popular symphony. Drawing upon Indian songs and African-American spirituals, it captures the spirit of both traditions by artfully melding folk melodies and classical techniques to reveal a distinctly American sound.
Born in Taiwan, guest conductor Chen has lived in the United States since 1989 and recently concluded a highly successful tenure as assistant conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She currently is serving a one-year appointment as assistant conductor and League of American Orchestras conducting fellow of the Baltimore Symphony. Her guest conducting engagements take her worldwide. Awarded the 2007 Taki Concordia Fellowship, Chen has appeared jointly with Marin Alsop and Stefan Sanderling in highly acclaimed subscription concerts with the Baltimore Symphony, Colorado Symphony and Florida Orchestra.
In 2002, Chen was unanimously selected as music director of the Portland Youth Philharmonic in Oregon. During her five-year tenure with the orchestra, she led its sold-out debut in Carnegie Hall and received an ASCAP award for innovative programming. She was honored with a Sunburst Award from Young Audiences for her contribution to music education. She holds a doctor of musical arts degree in conducting from the University of Michigan and was the first student in New England Conservatory¡¯s history to receive double master¡¯s degrees simultaneously in violin and conducting.
Pacific Symphony¡¯s Classical series performances are made possible by the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation, with additional support from the Symphony¡¯s official airline, American Airlines; official hotel, The Westin South Coast Plaza, official classical music station, KUSC; and official television station, KOCE-TV.
Submitted By;
Jayce Keane
Director of Public Relations
Pacific Symphony
3631 S. Harbor Blvd. Suite 100
Santa Ana, CA 92704
©¦Tickets: 714/ 755-5799
www.PacificSymphony.org
